ARMED police swooped on an industrial estate within hours of a daylight knife attack in a nearby street.

The Cleveland Police units, including officers from the armed response and dog teams, surrounded the Bon Lea Trading Estate in Thornaby following an attack just over two hours earlier in which a man suffered multiple stab wounds and an injury to his face.

The alleged attempted murder came on the junction of nearby Mansfield Avenue and Cobden Street at around 2.20pm yesterday.

The victim was named locally as 21-year-old Christopher Bennett.

A 22-year-old man was arrested at the trading estate, while a 24-year-old man was detained by officers later that evening - both on suspicion of attempted murder.

Resident Nathan Bulmer, 19, who lives in Cobden Street, said: “All I heard was lots of shouting. I came outside and heard screaming. A lady down the road was shouting ‘call an ambulance’.”

Mr Bulmer said he saw the victim - believed to be a former Thornaby Community School pupil - “gushing blood”.

“His nose was hanging off,” he said.

“Everyone was going mad. The police were telling people to get back in their houses.

“Someone brought a chair out for him while they were waiting for the ambulance.

“I just hope he gets better. I saw him getting into the ambulance and I asked him if he was going to be all right and he said yes.”

The man was taken to Middlesbrough’s James Cook Hospital by ambulance. His condition was today described as “stable”.

An eyewitness said the drama on the industrial estate unfolded at around 4.30pm.

“Police gathered behind the Lookers Garage and another armed unit was hidden within the estate and there was a CID car,” he said.

“I was walking the area, then waited for a bit and then all units, including a dog unit, headed down to a lock-up and surrounded the area with armed officers.”

The man said a car then pulled up, at which point officers arrested one of its occupants.

The two suspects were still being questioned in custody today.

Witnesses to the alleged attack, or anyone with information, is urged to call Detective Sergeant Stuart Hodgson on 01642 302226 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.